To My Mother and the Mother of the love of my life.

MOTHERS

For those who are lucky to still be blessed with a living Mom, this is beautiful. For those who aren't, this is even more beautiful.

The young mother set her foot on the path of life. "Is this the long way?" she asked.

And the guide said "Yes, and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning."

But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years.

So she played with her children, she fed them and bathed them, and taught them how to tie their shoes and ride a bike and reminded them to feed the dog and do their homework and brush their teeth.

The sun shone on them and the young Mother cried, "Nothing will ever be lovelier than this."

Then the nights came, and the storms, and the path was sometimes dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and
covered them with her arms, and the children said, "Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come."

And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead, and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary. But at all times she said to the
children, A little patience and we are there."

So the children climbed, and as they climbed they learned to weather the storms. And with this, she gave them strength to face the world.

Year after year, she showed them compassion, understanding, hope, but most of all, unconditional love.

And when they reached the top they said, "Mother, we would not have done it without you."

The days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and the mother grew old and she became little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. And the mother, when she lay down at night, looked up at the stars and said, "This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned so much and are now passing these traits on to their children."

And when the way became rough for her, they lifted her, and gave her their strength, just as she had given them hers. One day they came to a hill, and beyond the hill, they could see a shining road and golden gates flung wide. And mother said: "I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know the end is better than the beginning, for my children can walk with dignity and pride, with their heads held high, and so can their children after them."

And the children said, "You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates." And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said: "We cannot see her, but she is with us still. A Mother like ours is more than a memory. She is a living presence."

Your Mother is always with you. She's the whisper of the leaves as you walk down the street, she's the smell of certain foods you remember, flowers you pick and perfume that she wore, she's the cool hand on your brow when you're not feeling well, she's your breath in the air on a cold winter's day. She is the sound of the rain that lulls you to sleep, the colors of a rainbow, she is your birthday morning.

Your Mother lives inside your laughter. And she's crystallized in every tear drop. A mother shows every emotion, happiness, sadness, fear, jealousy,
love, hate, anger, helplessness, excitement, joy, sorrow, and all the while, hoping and praying you will only know the good feelings in life. She's the place
you came from, your first home, and she's the map you follow with every step you take. She's your first love, your first friend, even your first enemy, but nothing on earth can separate you. Not time, not space, not even death!

MAY WE NEVER TAKE OUR MOTHERS FOR GRANTED!

Dandelion Wishes

Dandelion wishes are dreams,
sent as prayers on the seeds of dandelions.
Blown to freedom by child like faith,
taken on a swift wind to the heavens.
Dandelion wishes are the hopes,
that these prayers will be answered.

By Christina Williams
9/9/99

Written by my sister and with all the dandelions around I was reminded of it.

I'm Just a Mother? Excuse Me???

This was sent to me many years ago and I like to read it every now and again to remind my self that I might only be "JUST A MOTHER" but I'm the best mother for my girls.

A few months ago, when I was picking up the children at school another mother I
knew well rushed up to me. Emily was fuming with indignation."Do you know what
you and I are?" she demanded. Before I could answer (and I didn't really have
one handy) she blurted out the reason for her question. It seemed she had just
returned from renewing her driver's license at The County Clerk's office. When
asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation, Emily had hesitated,
uncertain how to classify herself. "What I mean is," explained the recorder, "do
you have a job, or are you just a.....?" "Of course I have a job," snapped
Emily. "I'm a mother." "We don't list 'mother' as an occupation...'housewife'
covers it," said the recorder emphatically.

I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation,
this time at our own Town Hall. The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised,
efficient, and possessed of a high-sounding title like "Town Registrar" or
"Official Interrogator" "And what is your occupation?" she probed. What made me
say it, I do not know. The words simply popped out."I'm a Research Associate in
the field of Child Development and Human Relations."

The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair, and looked up as though she
had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly, emphasizing the most
significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pompous pronouncement was
written in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.

Might I ask," said the clerk with new interest, "just what you do in your
field?"

Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I have
a continuing program of research (what mother doesn't) in the laboratory and in
the field (normally I would have said indoors and out).

I'm working for my Masters (the whole darned family) and already have four
credits (all daughters).

Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities (any mother
care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day (24 is more like it).

But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the
rewards are in satisfaction rather than just money."

There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed
the form, stood up, and personally ushered me to the door.

As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was
greeted by my lab assistants - ages 13, 7, and 3.

Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model (6 months)in the
child-development program, testing out a new vocal pattern.

I felt triumphant! I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the
official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than
"just another mother."

Motherhood...what a glorious career. Especially when there's a title on the
door.
Whether a stay at home Mom or a career Mom, we should all carry this title.